"Repeat after me: Radiant Nar, Lord of the Golden Bond."
"Radiant Nar, Lord of the Golden Bond..."
"Your scales weigh fairness; your golden flame forges wisdom."
"Your scales weigh fairness; your golden flame forges wisdom... Haa..." Annan yawned.
"Guide my dealings free of fraud, and keep my purse from ever leaking. Let wealth flow like a river, never sinking into the mire of greed."
"Guide my dealings free of fraud, and keep my purse from ever leaking! Let wealth flow like a river, never sinking into the mire of greed!" Annan recited loudly.
"We stamp your mark upon our gold coins."
"We stamp... Do we really have to learn this stuff?"
Annan had never imagined he would have to study and memorize things again...
"You're the Holy Son of the Wealth Church now. If you don't want to give yourself away, you have to learn this." Olmedo lowered the Holy Scripture, helplessness showing in her blue eyes behind her glasses.
"What kind of Holy Son doesn't even know his church's prayers?"
"Why not?" Annan shot back. "Is someone going to quiz me on them?"
Olmedo had no answer. She closed the Holy Scripture.
She had to admit Annan had a point. Their limited energy would be better spent on more important matters.
"Then let's cover the essentials. First, why don't dragons worship the Goddess of Wealth?"
"Because the Lady values the circulation of wealth, thriving commerce, and fair trade. Dragons never circulate their wealth, don't engage in commerce, and certainly don't trade fairly." Annan stumbled through the answer like a student reciting a lesson.
"You missed one: all dragons worship the Dragon God and the Dragon Mother," Olmedo corrected him. "Now, if you met a Wealth Church priest on the road and he hooked his thumb and ring finger together,